Topic: What tires do you recommend for a midtuned cb500

[Korven]

So ive got Street cb500 with a racing faring. The tires its sitting on only have the dot code with 3 numbers so those tires are pretty old. not sure if they are 98 or as old as 88 hehe. Its sitting on Metzler ME33 (front) and Metzler ME77 (Back). not sure if i should go with these again or if i should get the avon road runners. i want medium range tires that doesnt shout 2018 tires design, any suggestions?

 
19x1.85
Metzler ME33 3.25 19

18x2.15
Metzler ME77 4.10H 18

So while changing tires i looked at the wheel bearing and they seem to be fine, brake shoes look like new and is moving fine. Is it anything else obvious one should do while in there? Gonna clean up some of the brake dust and get some new lube in there. noticed there are two orings and a oil seal. (guess its a dust seal)






Offtopic: anyone know a good way to slow down the corrosion on the mag forks?

[TwoTired]

I like the Metzelers you have, and use them myself on my bikes.  They won't change handling much as they wear.

What ever tire you chose, make certain the manufacturer says it fits your rim width.  Oversixe tires will pinch the beads together, and create odd wear patterns.  It will seem fine when new, but, wear faster than the correct size.  And worse, involve progressively worse handling as the tire wears and they lose the arched crown on the tread.

Some manufacturers still offer the inch sized tires for those rims.  I'd stick with those.

Cheers,

[Korven]

I like the Metzelers you have, and use them myself on my bikes.  They won't change handling much as they wear.

What ever tire you chose, make certain the manufacturer says it fits your rim width.  Oversixe tires will pinch the beads together, and create odd wear patterns.  It will seem fine when new, but, wear faster than the correct size.  And worse, involve progressively worse handling as the tire wears and they lose the arched crown on the tread.

Some manufacturers still offer the inch sized tires for those rims.  I'd stick with those.

Cheers,

The thing ive heard about "old" tires are that new tires use a better Rubber solution. is this true? seems weird to use an old rubber solution even when making retro tires. ive heard that premium tires have diffrent types of rubber on the middle and on the sides. The middle on is for durability and the side rubber is for grip. maybe this is true for most tires? the metzlers seem to have good rewievs.

[david 750f]

Prior to 2000, there was only a three digit date code. First two for the week and third digit for the year. If that number is an 8, they could be 1978, 1988 or 1998..
Lots of tire options out the there. I currently have Avon’s in original standard sizes, very happy with them.

[Stev-o]

I like the Metzelers you have, and use them myself on my bikes.  They won't change handling much as they wear.

What ever tire you chose, make certain the manufacturer says it fits your rim width.  Oversixe tires will pinch the beads together, and create odd wear patterns.  It will seem fine when new, but, wear faster than the correct size.  And worse, involve progressively worse handling as the tire wears and they lose the arched crown on the tread.

Some manufacturers still offer the inch sized tires for those rims.  I'd stick with those.

Cheers,

The thing ive heard about "old" tires are that new tires use a better Rubber solution. is this true? seems weird to use an old rubber solution even when making retro tires. ive heard that premium tires have diffrent types of rubber on the middle and on the sides. The middle on is for durability and the side rubber is for grip.

Tires use different compounds (not solutions) for specific riding conditions.   Soft compounds offer more grip than hard, but won't last as many miles. 

I have Bridgestone BT45's on my K4, it has the dual compound you asked about, it's a good tire. 

I also have Avons (on my Z1), and Continentals on my H2, both are excellent tires and the Conti-Twins have a nice vintage tread pattern. 
A good budget tire is IRC, I run these on my 550F.   

I avoid Chinese tires on all of my vehicles...bikes, cars and truck. 

[TwoTired]

I understood that it was mostly touring tires that offered a harder compound tread center with softer tread sides.  Check out manufacturer sites for this feature.

I'm not sure what you are after.  But, if it is cornering that you wish to improve, start with a good fork brace, or the fender brace that came with the bike for improved stability.  These keep the forks parrallel and thus the wheel pointed consitently while deep into aggressive turns, particularyly on uneven pavement.

Do understand that soft aggressive tires naturally wear faster than harder compounds.  And, there isn't any tire that is going to make 70s suspension technology work on par with modern bike cornering grip and stability.

Not that you can't scare yourself, thrill yourself with a CB500 during spirited riding.   

Cheers,

[Gordon]

Prior to 2000, there was only a three digit date code. First two for the week and third digit for the year. If that number is an 8, they could be 1978, 1988 or 1998..
Lots of tire options out the there. I currently have Avon’s in original standard sizes, very happy with them.

+1 on the Avons.  I've been running Roadrunners/Roadriders on my bikes for years, and I love them.  Good wear, great grip, and the standard sizes have a slightly taller sidewall which I think looks better on these old bikes. 

[BomberMann650]

Side by side comparison metzeler v avon.  Indoors, new, unmounted.  The avons have a little extra soft & sticky factor the hand can feel. 
Soft and Sticky is good for those in cooler climates.

I've come to appreciate the metzeler roadtec 01hwb's on my 1300.

[dave500]

tyre threads are like oil threads?just use sport demons,i don't understand how "midtuned"can be squared up with what tyres to use?

[Korven]

tyre threads are like oil threads?just use sport demons,i don't understand how "midtuned"can be squared up with what tyres to use?

Yes i agree, you always get alot of diffrent personal tastes. But... Myself dont have much personal experience with tires. ive only ever ridden on either superold, super hard tires from "new" purchase bikes(Taking it slow) or riding on pilot road 3s and 4s. Its not an original bike so hence the term "midtuned" its also neither a racer so im not stupid enough for something like TT tires.

[seanbarney41]

so just don't cheap out...the old adage "you get what you pay for" has never been more true than when dealing with motorcycle tires.  Some are a little stickier, some last a little longer.  If you have stock rims, the stock sizes will work excellent.  If you don't have stock rims, avoid going for extra width, especially in the front, as the steering will get numb and heavy.

[Deltarider]

Here's a question. After having had Conti's for decades, I now have Bridgestones BT45 and sofar (!) they're the best tyres I ever had on my bike. Bridgestone and Continental both prescribe relatively high tyre pressures compared to the pressures we find in the Owner's Manual for the then original tyres. Not until recently I have learned that the Metzelers have a lower advised tyre pressure than Continental and the BT45s. Now the CB500 is not particularly known for its comfort. To today's standards, it is quite a spartan ride. Could it be that the Metzelers with their lower tyre pressure, would therefore have been a better choice for someone who wants comfort or am I fooling my self here and do other factors like rubber compound play a dominant role?

[Bodi]

Tire technology marches on. No manufacturer is using 1970's rubber compound formulae today. A modern cheapo tire is likely to outperform a 70s performance tire just because the rubber chemistry is so superior. You can still get a Dunlop K81 in some sizes with the vintage tread and profile - but not the vintage rubber formula.
The name brand tires are all excellent in my experience. "Sportier" tires will wear faster, "touring" tires will offer less extreme cornering limits. Some have mutli compound tread with harder long-wearing rubber in the centre and softer grippier rubber further out. Various brands may give different "clues" that you're approaching disaster in a turn: some get a bit squirrely to let you know it's time to back off a bit, some will hold the road tenaciously until suddenly you're down.
So what's your goal? Aggressive backroad carving? Track days? Relaxing touring? Tire choice has to take that into account.

[Korven]

I think Touring tires will be the better for me rather than too sporty tires. i think ill be going for the roadriders. Ive checked the avon homepage for details and the rims should accept these tires (altought they arent the recommended rims since my rims doesnt seem to be wide enough), Will these handle weird?

Avon AM26 Roadrider 4.00-18 on 18x2.15  -         2.15 - 3.00  (2.5 recommended)
Avon AM26 Roadrider 3.25-19 on 19x1.85  -    1.85 - 2.50 (2.15 recommended)

https://www.avontyres.com/en-gb/tyre-details/59/avon-roadrider-avon-tyres/?cartype=motorcycle

[TwoTired]

Those tires will feel great when new.  You will have run higher tire pressure to help stabilize the more extreme tire sidewall angle, since the recommended rim width is wider than what you have.
The higher tire pressures make the tread centers wear faster than the edges, and change the tread crown profile over time.
With new tires, the bike will retain its nice neutral feel in turns without having to fight the bars to hold line in corners.  When the tires wear, you will have to counter steer on the bars to keep the bike on desired line in corners in increasing amounts of pressure along with the wear.

I'm thinking Avon designed the tire for more modern rims.  But, marketing ( rather than engineering) widened the rim spec to sell more tires.  This is going to be a problem for a lot of tire manufacturers, I expect.

Cheers,

[Korven]

Those tires will feel great when new.  You will have run higher tire pressure to help stabilize the more extreme tire sidewall angle, since the recommended rim width is wider than what you have.
The higher tire pressures make the tread centers wear faster than the edges, and change the tread crown profile over time.
With new tires, the bike will retain its nice neutral feel in turns without having to fight the bars to hold line in corners.  When the tires wear, you will have to counter steer on the bars to keep the bike on desired line in corners in increasing amounts of pressure along with the wear.

I'm thinking Avon designed the tire for more modern rims.  But, marketing ( rather than engineering) widened the rim spec to sell more tires.  This is going to be a problem for a lot of tire manufacturers, I expect.

Cheers,

The front rim was acctually a 2.15 19" so that puts the rear at the  recommended spec. if i were to hit the perfect spot it would be the 90/90 -18 avon F/R tires. these are only 97mm wide aposed to 117 on the 4.00-18. also the thread depth is only 5mm as oposed to 8mm. Front tire described above is 98mm. Just seems weird to have that low thread depth to start with.